VOLKSWAGEN LAUNCHES ELECTRIC MOBILITY PILOT PROJECT IN SOUTH AFRICA

South Africa becomes the second country after Rwanda to introduce Volkswagen electric vehicles in Africa

Johannesburg. Volkswagen has taken
the first step in its journey towards electric mobility in South Africa through
the launch of the e-Golf pilot project.

The e-Golf pilot project will see six fully electric vehicles
being tested by motoring and lifestyle media, selected dealers as well as
Volkswagen employees in an effort to gain valuable consumer insights into the
varying experiences of driving and living with an electric vehicle in South
Africa.

Through the involvement of selected Volkswagen dealers
in Gauteng and Western Cape, the e-Golf pilot project seeks to drive customer awareness
and education regarding electric vehicles. The e-Golfs will be used as shuttles
and courtesy cars for Volkswagen customers.

“At Volkswagen, we want to democratise electric
mobility and that is why the e-Golf pilot project is a key initiative for the
brand. With the help of our dealers, we want to get as many South Africans as
possible to drive and experience an electric vehicle as this is the future of
our brand,” said Mike Glendinning, Sales and Marketing Director for Volkswagen
Group South Africa.

The e-Golf pilot project includes charging
infrastructure installed in Volkswagen’s Uitenhage manufacturing plant and as
well as the Dealer Training Academy in Centurion, Gauteng.

The e-Golf pilot project is the first step of a
three-phase approach which will pave the way for Volkswagen to include electric
vehicles in its future product portfolio in South Africa. The second phase will
be expanded to include a fleet of fully electric Volkswagen ID.3 vehicles from
2021.

The third and last phase of the electric mobility
project will see the first fully-electric Volkswagen vehicles available for
sale to customers in South Africa from 2022.

The e-Golf, as well as the ID.3, will not be available
for sale in South Africa and will be used solely for the purposes of ensuring
as many South Africans as possible get to experience life with an electric
vehicle.